Christmas Delievery

by
Rating: PG
Spoliers: References to Look at the Princess.
Summary: There are lots of Christmas surprises in store.
Notes: This is a Christmas feel good story that was written in September,
but I thought was more apprioate now.  I hope you like it.

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                       CHRISTMAS DELIEVERY

Jack Crichton smiled as he surveyed the scene.  The front room of his cabin
was filled with decorations, actually the massive tree in the corner mostly
filled it.  Thanking Alex for the eggnog, Jack thought about his guests.
Alex had started off as his son's girlfriend until she had left for a new
job but when John Crichton had disappeared three years ago, she had rung up
concerned and had become a good friend.  John and DK had grown up together
and the young scientist had been devastated when his friend had vanished.
At the moment DK could be heard singing Christmas carols to his girlfriend
Laura while they prepared the Christmas Eve meal.
This Christmas was a special occasion and it was due to the young man who
was wandering the woods at this precise moment.
John Crichton had suddenly reappeared one night nearly a year ago.  Jack had
been shocked to see his son in the flesh.  The first few days had been
marvellous; John had spent them reacquainting himself with a lot of human
food and his friends.
Nights were spent giving accounts of the lost two years.   Jack noticed that
his son became more animated when he spoke about his other world adventure.
It also felt like John wasn't telling him everything and then there were
those walks.  Crichton Junior had started taking long walks at the same time
each evening.  There were even presents for his so-called 'alien' shipmates
under the tree.
Crichton Senior was jolted from his worrying thoughts by a loud knock at the
door.  Sighing, Jack walked over and opened it ready to welcome whomever was
behind it.  The visitor in question was a well-bundled woman with dark hair.
"Crichton." She stammered seeming to recognise Jack although the older man
couldn't place her.
"Yes, this is the Crichton resident. How may I help you?"  Jack enquired.
".John.Crichton."
"That's my son, he's not here at the moment but if you would like to come in
he should be back soon."
Jack led the newcomer into the lounge and sat her down.  Soon his other
guests joined them as they enquired about her and the reasons for being
here.
Apart from her name, all they got from her was, "We were in the
neighbourhood."
"Pretty big neighbourhood, Sunshine."  A male voice informed the group from
the doorway.
All five people turned to see John Crichton, staring at the woman in
question.
"John, look who's here!"  Laura called.
"I can see Laura," he replied walking over to the group and positioning
himself next to the woman.
"Erin, was just telling how she knew you."  DK informed John.
"Old friends."  John told him while Aeryn smiled.  "So what are you doing
here?"
"Well, we decided to celebrate your holiday and I needed to get Chiana
something. She has been sad so I thought as we were close by you could come
and visit."  She answered hopefully.
"Sounds good to me, get to see everyone again.  So why didn't they come
down?"
"They don't know where we are.  Pilot recognised the co-ordinates and I
decided to come down and get you."
"Sneaky Miss Sun."  John replied smiling.
"Er, excuse me," DK interrupted.  "But who are Pilot and Chiana?"
"Just some more friends," John told him before pausing.  "Wait a minute, you
can understand what we're saying?"
"Yes, why?"  Alex curiously asked.
John just stared at Aeryn, who just pointed to a broach on her shirt as she
explained.
"It's rigged to Talyn's translator system."
"Talyn's here?"  Aeryn nodded.
"OK, what is going on?!!" Jack shouted.
"You'd better sit down," John instructed, which they all did, Aeryn sitting
on the arm of John's chair, both facing the other humans.
"You want to know what's going on well it seems we could be all taking a
little trip to see some friends."  John had decided he was going as soon as
he had seen Aeryn and she had mentioned it.  With the appearance of Talyn,
John could take his human family to see his other family.  Aeryn had
silently agreed to it, so John Crichton took a deep breath and prepared
himself to explain fully to the bemused faces in front of him.
"I know you only half believed my stories about how I survived the past two
years and I don't really blame you.  I don't think I would have believed it
if I hadn't lived through it.  Well, how would you like concrete proof."
No one said a word, they just all stand at the two people in front of them.
John then turned and removed the broach.  He then spoke to Aeryn.
"I think its about time you introduced yourself Aeryn."  He told her.
After a puzzled look at Crichton, Aeryn spoke to the others.  John could
tell from their shocked expressions that they were hearing Aeryn's true
language and he partly envied them.  After Aeryn had finished he handed her
back the broach and then faced his family.
"Wow!"  Was all that DK could manage.
"So everything you said was true."  Laura stated.
Aeryn gave a quiet laugh, "They believe you as much as we do Crichton."
"Thank you Aeryn."  He growled before speaking to the other humans in the
room.  So how would you like to meet the rest of our space family?"  He
casually asked.
"Hell yes!"  Jack Crichton practically screamed.
"I think that's settled then.  We leave in about thirty minutes so we can
pack supplies."
"And change." Aeryn commented handing Crichton one of the packages.
"The latest PK wear."  John laughed.  "OK, Dad, DK pack the presents and
decorations.  Laura, Alex pack food and anything else you may need while
Aeryn and I go change."  John ordered.

Thirty minutes later, the Crichton household was packed away in boxes.  Jack
Crichton didn't know what he was doing but he knew it was the happiest and
brightest he had seen his son since his return. Just then Crichton senior
heard his son and friend approaching.  His mouth dropped when he saw then.
They were both in black leather suits with what looked liked guns strapped
to their legs.
"It's all the fashion in the Uncharted Regions."  John Crichton announced
answering his father's unspoken question.
"Well, we've got everything so let's go."  DK shouted, picking up two boxes
and headed back out of the door.
Ten minutes later the group of six stood in a green field just beyond the
wood.  Laura and Alex looked around trying to find whatever they were
looking for.
"Where is he then?"  Crichton asked.
"Right here," Aeryn calmly replied, before speaking into her comm.  "Talyn,
we would like to come abroad now."
A series of beeps came over her comm before a large black shape appeared
ahead of them.  Jack, DK, Laura and Alex stood open mouthed.
"Come on, we would like to get there before Christmas."  John called as he
and Aeryn lead the others aboard.
Once inside, Aeryn seemed calmer and John's face just lit up.  Jack and the
others followed the couple to the main deck, which was filled with consoles
and flashing lights.  Aeryn walked to the middle placed her hands caringly
along the surfaces and spoke to it.
"See Talyn, Crichton is here with some of his family.  We can now head back
to your mother.  OK?"
Talyn replied with a series of beeps and flashes, which meant he did.
Suddenly the ship came alive as the young Leviathan lifted off the planet's
surface.
"Mother?"  Laura asked.
"Yes, Talyn is a living ship.  Moya is our home and his mother."  Aeryn
started fiddling with her broach.
John noticed and decided it was time for a little injection.
"Talyn."  He called coming up alongside Aeryn.  "Have we got any translator
microbes onboard?"
An affirmative was given and a console opened to release four syringes.
"What's that?"  Alex demanded.
"Something that will allow you to understand the others."
"But we can now."
"Only because of the broach.  It's the only one and trust me it's easier to
understand what they're saying."
"Most of the time."  Aeryn muttered under her breath.
"Watch it Sunshine."  John shouted back as he injected each person in turn.
A long beep announced that they had reached their destination and the group
headed towards the transport pod, for their journey over to Moya.
"I'll drive!" Crichton called as all six settled themselves down for
transport.
"Crichton, you will not. There are planets to hit here and we don't want to
crash into your Earp."
"Earth, Aeryn."  John automatically replied.  "Fine, you drive and I'll
entertain."
"I'll bet you will."  Aeryn muttered as John wandered over to Alex.
The journey and docking went fine and soon everybody was standing in the
Maintenance Bay; four out of the six of the occupants stood staring at their
surroundings.  Laura nearly jumped when a DRD scurried and positioned itself
in front of Crichton.  John crouched down and spoke to it.
"Hey Moya, I'm back!"
"Pilot," Aeryn spoke into her comm.  "Is everybody with you?"
"Yes officer Sun."  Pilot replied before being interrupted by a female
voice.
"Its about time Aeryn!  Zhann wouldn't let me open any of my presents until
you were here.  Where have you been?"  Chiana complained to Aeryn.
"I was getting your present."  She replied smiling to Crichton before
turning her comm off.
"Well everyone."  John announced, "Ready to meet the family?" and with that
the group headed towards the Den.
They walked slowly with Aeryn taking the lead, muttering to herself, as she
had to stop every couple of seconds as one of the humans stared at
something.
"I forgot how frelling annoying that was."  She complained, Crichton took
pity on her.
"OK, Aeryn I'll sort it out."  He told her before raising his voice.  "Hey
guys, we can do the tour later, first lets go see the others.  Chiana is too
impatient to wait for anything and you don't want to annoy Aeryn, believe
me."
Finally reaching the Den, everybody but Aeryn stopped at the door. The
Peacekeeper strolled in to make her presence known while the humans stood
concealed behind the door.  They were able to see everything that was going
on, thought and Jack Crichton was pleased about that.
"It's about time!"  Rygel exclaimed seeing Aeryn approach.  She just scowled
in return, "I was busy."
"You should have told us where you were going."  Zhann calmly told her.
"But then it wouldn't have been a surprise."  Aeryn returned.
"So what did you get me?"  Chaina interrupted.
"A present Chaina.  Well, sort of a present."
"What do you mean sort of?"
"I didn't know what to get you so I thought something that might make you
happy."  Aeryn said, her voice increasing.
"Any way, what do you get for the girl who can steal anything." A familiar
voice asked Chiana.
"Crichton!!!"  The young Nebari screamed before running into his arms.
"Hey Chi.  Missed me?"
"Of course."
"We all did John."  Zhann's steady voice told him.
"Hey Blue." John said hugging her.
"Yo!  Sparky."  He then called to Rygel who was once again having trouble
breathing.
"John."  D'Argo said before slapping the astronaut on the back.
"Nice to see you big guy."  Crichton coughed.
"It's great to see you all and this time I brought guests."  Crichton told
the group as he motioned for his human family to join them.
When everybody was in the Den, John Crichton started introductions, starting
with the humans.
"Guys, I would like to introduce you to my family.  This is my father, Jack
Crichton; my best friend DK with his girlfriend Laura and last is Alex."
"So you are the people Crichton is always talking to."  D'Argo said.
"On my taperecorder."  John informed his Dad before introducing his
crewmates.  "Right, Dad, DK.  It's now time to meet the people who have
looked after me and been my friends for the past two years.  First, this
lovely lady here is Pa'u Zotoh Zhann, a Devlin Priestess; next to her is our
lovely little Chiana.  The big guy her is Ka D'Argo while the little runt is
his Royal Highness Dominar Rygel the sixthteenth.  When each member had been
introduced, they had politely said hello to the humans, apart from Rygel who
had just grunted.
"Pilot is over there, he is the main man who helps run Moya who is every bit
living believe me.  And finally.." John said looking around and then
grabbing something behind him. "..is Officer Aeryn Sun, a Peacekeeper."
"Ex-Peacekeeper."  Aeryn growled under her breath.
"Whatever Sunshine."  John replied, not really that concerned about her
scowl.
"Now can I open my presents!?" Chiana demanded.
"Yes Chiana, you can."  Zhann calmly told her as everyone gathered round the
little pile of coloured boxes situated in front of Pilot.